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Factors Influencing Black Cottonwood (Populus Trichocarpa ) Recruitment on the Upper Clark Fork River Western Montana

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Factors Influencing Black Cottonwood (Populus Trichocarpa ) Recruitment on the Upper Clark Fork River Western Montana University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers Graduate School 1996 Factors influencing black cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa ) recruitment on the upper Clark Fork River western Montana Stephen R. Clayton The University of Montana Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd Let us know how access to this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Clayton, Stephen R., "Factors influencing black cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa ) recruitment on the upper Clark Fork River western Montana" (1996). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 6774. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/6774 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Maureen and Mike MANSFIELD LIBRARY The University of IVIONXANA Pennission is granted by the autlior to reproduce tliis material in its entirety, provided that tliis material is used for scholarly purposes and is properly cited in published works and reports. ** Please check "Yes*' or "No" and provide signature ** Yes, I grant permission K No, I do not grant permission Author's Signature Date Any copying for commercial purposes or financial gain may be undertaken only with tlie author's explicit consent. FACTORS INFLUENCING BLACK COTTONWOOD (Populus trichocarpa) RECRUITMENT ON THE UPPER CLARK FORK RIVER, WESTERN MONTANA by Stephen R. Clayton B.A. Stanford University, 1990 presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science The University of Montana 1996 Approved by: ^ c u J Chairperson Dean, Graduate School Date UMI Number: EP37575 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. UMI Disssrtation Publishing UMI EP37575 Published by ProQuest LLC (2013). Copyright in the Dissertation held by the Author. Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code ProQuesf ProQ uest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106- 1346 Clay ton, Stephen R., M.S., May 1996 Resource Conservation Factors Influencing the Black Cottonwood {Populus trichocarpa) Recruitment on the Upper Clark Fork River, Western Montana (93 pp.) Director: Paul L. Hansen This study, conducted during the summer of 1995, examined factors influencing black cottonwood {Populus trichocarpa) recruitment on the upper Clark Fork River in western Montana. Because cottonwood seedling recruitment can be limited by an absence of bare alluvial substrate, I tested the effect of two site preparation treatments designed to create bare substrate—plowing by hand with a shovel and herbiciding with Roundup®—on cottonwood seedling recruitment. On an older, established point bar, the treatments had no significant (alpha=0.10) effect on cottonwood seedling establishment or survival. Although treatments to create bare substrate had no significant effect, the depth to the water table (measured with piezometers) at the time of seed release was highly correlated with seedling establishment (rs=0.789, p<0.0005). Also, the rate of water table decline through the first growing season influenced where seedlings established and how long they survived on both the treated plots and on new sediment deposits. Although over 1,200 seedlings/m2 established in some plots, few seedlings survived the summer. Highest cottonwood seedling survival occurred in those plots where the water table was within 20 cm of the ground surface during the time of seed release (early July) and where the water table dropped no deeper than 50 cm by early September. The first three weeks (June 30-July 19) were the most critical as seedlings only survived where the water table declined at an average rate of less than 0.5 cm/day. Over the next three weeks (July 19-August 9), some seedlings survived average drops of 2.0 cm/day. However, for the entire season, drops of about 0.5 cm/day led to greatest survival. Even though seedlings established at equal rates on sand (less than 2 mm) and gravel deposits, significantly more seedlings survived on the gravel. I cored 139 mature cottonwoods and mapped stands by age class in 25-year intervals. The oldest cored tree was 135 years, and the average lifespan of cottonwoods in the study reach appears to be about 100-150 years. Cottonwood stands occupy 22% of the riparian study area, and the site has one of the highest densities of cottonwoods on the upper Clark Fork River. However, only 5% of the area currently occupied by cottonwoods is covered by stands less than 50 years old, and, of this 5%, about 75% is covered by stands less than 10 years old. Potential factors contributing to the lack of younger trees are addressed, and opportunities for black cottonwood management and future research are discussed. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Funding for this project was provided by The Nature Conservancy of Montana with additional support from the Riparian and Wetland Research Program at the University of Montana. I am very thankful to both organizations; without their support, this project would not have occurred. Many individuals provided invaluable guidance at different critical stages of this research project. Thanks to my committee chair. Dr. Paul Hansen, and my other committee members. Dr. Ray Callaway, Dr. Don Bedunah, and Dr. Robert Ehrhart, for helping me define and develop my initial study direction and for advising me along the way. Bemie Hall and Bob Petty of The Nature Conservancy of Montana also helped me identify this study opportunity. I thank Mrs. Margaret Wallace for allowing me the privilege to access her property. At the University of Montana, Dr. David Patterson provided important statistical guidance and kindly loaned my some of his prized books, and Dr. Tom DeLuca allowed me to use the soils lab. A special thanks to my cousin, Jason Wonderlich, who spent two weeks of his summer with me when the going was getting tough and I needed a boost of energy. We had a good time coring big trees, fighting mosquitoes, and wading through a few wetlands, including one spot that ended up being over my head, let alone his. This project would not have been successful without the support of numerous individuals associated with the Riparian and Wetland Research Program who pitched in and helped me throughout the project. Mike Merigliano and Brad Cook both spent time in the field with me and provided important advice while ensuring that I sought out my own answers. Bill Thompson and Bob Ehrhart did everything from loaning me tools to challenging my reasoning for certain parts of the study. Erik Ringelberg, Tom Parker, Jay Hall, and Ryan Benedetti were there to help me when I was stumped and rescue me when I encountered computer problems. Carol Winters helped me with logistical challenges throughout the summer. All the GIS analysis and maps in this report would not have been possible without the guidance of Jim Johnson and the hard work of Dalice McIntyre. Thanks to all. Thanks also to my brothers, Mike and Joe, for their support and to our parents. Bill and Diane, for laying the foundation for my appreciation and respect of the natural world and encouraging me along the way. Finally, thanks to my wife, Jennifer, for her extraordinary patience, understanding, and support during this challenging project. m TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER ONE; INTRODUCTION ............................................................. 1 THE IMPORTANCE OF RIPARIAN ECOSYSTEMS...................................... 1 THREATS TO COTTONWOOD ECOSYSTEMS .............................................. 2 COTTONWOOD ECOLOGY ............................................................................... 3 STUDY PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES ............................................................... 7 STUDY AREA ........................................................................................................... 8 History of the Upper Clark Fork Valley Since the 1800s .............................. 8 Study Site ........................................................................................ 12 CHAPTER TWO: THE DISTRIBUTION OF COTTONWOODS BY AGE CLASS .............................................................................................. 17 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................... 17 METHODS ............................................................................................................... 18 Stand Mapping and Core Sampling ................................................................ 18 Statistical Analysis Methods ................................ 21 RESULTS ................................................................................................................ 21 DISCUSSION ........................................................................................................ 25 SUMMARY ............................................................................................................
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